Somehow, the Denver Broncos have managed to assemble a competitive football team. With a significant contribution from Sean Payton’s coaching acumen and a tenacious defense, they’ve emerged as one of the NFL’s surprising teams at 2-2, heading into a Week 5 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
However, their offense has struggled, as highlighted in their 10-9 victory over the New York Jets on September 29, where rookie quarterback Bo Nix had an exceptionally poor performance.
“Nix completed 48% of his passes for 60 yards, with 1 touchdown and no interceptions,” reported Heavy Sports’ Josh Buckhalter. “He attempted 12 passes, resulting in just 2.4 yards per attempt, marking the lowest figure for any QB with at least 25 attempts in a winning game since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, according to NFL researcher Dante Koplowitz-Fleming.”
As the quarterback, Nix carries much of the blame, which is understandable. The wide receivers have improved, and the running backs are showing promise. The offensive line also performed well, allowing no sacks against the Jets.
The tight ends, however, have underperformed, with Greg Dulcich, Adam Trautman, and Nate Adkins combining for only 8 receptions for 17 yards and no touchdowns over four games.
This lack of production is unacceptable. The Broncos should consider making a move before the November 5 trade deadline to acquire a dynamic tight end, setting their sights on Baltimore Ravens’ Mark Andrews. A three-time Pro Bowler and former NFL All-Pro, Andrews has found himself sidelined in the Ravens’ offense.
Andrews is a potential trade candidate as Baltimore’s offense has shifted, with third-year tight end Isaiah Likely emerging as the top target, leading the Ravens with 13 receptions for 167 yards and 1 touchdown.
This is a surprising decline for Andrews, who has been among the league’s elite tight ends throughout his six seasons and is currently in the third year of a four-year, $56 million contract extension he signed in March 2021.
In his first four games this season, Andrews has recorded just 6 receptions for 65 yards, and he dropped a wide-open pass from Lamar Jackson during a 35-10 win over the Buffalo Bills on September 29, which was his only target in that game.
Calculating the Cost of Bringing Andrews to Denver
If acquired, Andrews would likely become Denver’s second-best offensive weapon behind wide receiver Courtland Sutton immediately.
The trade could involve either Dulcich or Trautman along with a draft pick in 2025. The Broncos have only six picks in the 2025 draft, making them hesitant to part with any, but acquiring Andrews would be worth a mid-to-late round pick.
However, the more challenging aspect of trading for Andrews is his salary. While the Broncos could mitigate costs by waiting closer to the trade deadline, Andrews is set to earn $11 million in 2025.
Given that the Broncos are facing a record dead cap hit of $49.6 million next year, this is a significant consideration.